By: The Caffeinated Gear Team
The Rocket Bicocca stands as a remarkable breakthrough in Rocket Espresso’s illustrious lineup, bringing several compelling innovations to their prosumer range.
When news reached our team that Pro Espresso, the official UK Rocket distributor, had received their first shipment, we couldn’t wait to put this machine through its paces in our testing lab.
Want to skip straight to our findings? Jump directly to the review.
While Rocket Espresso might be considered a relative newcomer in the Italian espresso machine landscape, their achievements since their 2007 launch have been nothing short of remarkable.
Their impressive trajectory makes perfect sense when you understand their heritage. The story begins with ECM Italy, which forms the foundation of Rocket’s expertise.
Today’s ECM operates from Germany, having evolved from their original role as Profitec, an import business for ECM Italy’s machines. After establishing their own manufacturing facilities in Germany, they eventually separated from their Italian counterparts.
It was then that New Zealand’s ECM Italy distributors spotted an opportunity. They approached the Italian operation about acquiring rights to the domestic machine line for further development. Several key ECM Italy team members, including the founder’s son, joined this new venture – and thus, Rocket Espresso was born.
From our extensive research and industry connections, we believe this is an accurate representation of events, though some minor historical details might vary.
The company’s expertise shines through in their product development, and their recent releases suggest an ambitious push to claim the top spot in premium espresso machine manufacturing.
For home coffee enthusiasts, this competitive drive amongst premium manufacturers promises exciting developments in the market – though we should note that industry consolidation remains a separate concern worth watching.
The Rocket Appartamento has long been the company’s flagship model, enjoying sustained popularity over many years. However, recent market developments have sparked discussions about its value proposition, particularly regarding modern features like temperature adjustment, which some similarly-priced or more affordable machines now offer as standard.
Rocket continues to push boundaries in the espresso machine market with their innovative designs. The release of their Appartamento TCA shows they’re listening to customer feedback, incorporating sought-after features into this updated model. They’ve also introduced several other remarkable machines, which brings us to our main focus today:
Named after Milan’s university district, the Bicocca represents several firsts for Rocket Espresso. During our testing, we were particularly excited to work with their first machine featuring programmable doses. The innovation doesn’t stop there—this model introduces Rocket’s proprietary user interface and pioneering modular construction approach.
Our team was fascinated by Rocket’s revolutionary approach to machine construction. Rather than following traditional building methods, they’ve developed an ingenious modular system. This design allows for quick component replacement, substantially improving serviceability.
The hydraulic system showcases brilliant engineering, split into separate hot and cold circuit modules. This thoughtful design serves multiple purposes—streamlining assembly at their Italian factory while making maintenance remarkably straightforward.
We had the unique opportunity to examine the internal workings firsthand when addressing a minor issue during our testing period. The machine was indicating an empty boiler and continuously attempting to fill it, resulting in overflow into the drip tray.
Given the time constraints before filming, we received permission to investigate internally rather than waiting for a service engineer. The build quality and organisation inside truly impressed us—everything was immaculately arranged.
The issue stemmed from our region’s particularly soft water (a fortunate problem to have). The level probe, which detects minerals to measure water levels, simply needed increased sensitivity—an easy adjustment through the control panel.
Through extensive testing, we’ve discovered that while this machine boasts numerous capabilities, its standout quality is its ‘set and forget’ functionality. The combination of comprehensive programmability and remarkable temperature stability puts it in a class of its own.
Once you’ve dialled in your settings and programmed the shot buttons, anyone can produce exceptional espresso with minimal training. This makes it particularly valuable for various settings beyond the home barista’s kitchen.
Naturally, no system is entirely autonomous. Coffee beans will behave differently throughout the day, typically requiring grind adjustments to maintain optimal extraction. However, for users who aren’t pursuing the absolute peak of espresso perfection—particularly when using forgiving espresso blends—these subtle variations won’t significantly impact enjoyment.
This versatility makes the Bicocca an excellent choice for office environments, upscale businesses, sports clubs, and similar settings. It’s equally suited to households where one coffee enthusiast handles the setup, while other family members need straightforward access to quality espresso drinks.
Size-wise, it’s worth noting that the Bicocca takes up more space than typical home machines. Our measurements show it’s slightly larger than the La Marzocco Linea Mini, with dimensions comparable to the GS3.
Speaking of space considerations, here’s a cheeky thought: you might find room for the Bicocca by retiring that rarely-used oven, especially if your air fryer has become your go-to cooking companion!
When we place the Bicocca alongside other single-group commercial espresso machines, its footprint is actually quite modest. Most commercial single-group units stretch to about 50cm in width, making the Bicocca rather space-efficient while maintaining its commercial capabilities.
The programming capabilities of the Bicocca are genuinely impressive, though we should note it takes a different approach from machines like the R Nine One, which focuses on specialised espresso extraction techniques.
What the Bicocca offers instead is a comprehensive set of practical tools for achieving spot-on shots.
The machine allows you to programme two distinct settings for each of the volumetric shot buttons. You can either input your desired millilitre output via the touchscreen or pull your perfect shot and save those parameters.
Pre-infusion settings are fully customisable, and yes, you can add a bloom phase if that’s your preference.
In our testing, we found the real strength of the programmability lies in its ability to ensure consistency and ease of use. Once a skilled barista has dialled in the settings, virtually anyone can pull excellent shots.
The scheduling features are particularly well-thought-out. You can set up one or two daily automatic on/off schedules, and making adjustments is straightforward – for instance, deactivating the machine for an upcoming bank holiday Monday requires just a simple tap.
For those using a plumbed-in setup with filtration, the machine can be programmed to notify you when it’s time to replace the filter cartridge based on water volume processed.
The cleaning schedule can also be programmed, with a clever feature that keeps users within the cleaning menu until they’ve completed the entire cycle, including the crucial rinse phase.
The touchscreen provides useful insights into daily usage patterns and cleaning frequency, helping maintain optimal performance.
While there are numerous premium home machines we’d consider for personal use where manual shot control is preferred, the Bicocca stands out for different reasons. It’s particularly compelling for situations where you need consistently excellent results from users with varying experience levels, especially in a business setting where machine leasing might be considered.
The group head heating system employs a thermoblock mounted directly above, and according to our colleague Radu from Espresso Repair Shop, this design mirrors that of the La Marzocco Linea & Linea Mini – machines renowned for their temperature stability.
We should clarify a common misconception: this isn’t a thermoblock machine. It’s a proper dual boiler setup with a 500ml stainless steel brew boiler. The thermoblock’s sole purpose is maintaining precise group head temperature for superior stability.
One feature we particularly appreciate is the real-time group temperature display. Rather than relying on guesswork, you can monitor actual temperature fluctuations as they occur.
When discussing value, context is crucial. Our answer typically depends on the intended use case – and for its target market, we believe the Bicocca justifies its investment.
Here’s our assessment: if you’re seeking outstanding espresso with maximum repeatability and convenience after initial setup, whether for yourself or others using the machine, then yes, it’s worth considering.
However, if you enjoy the ritual of fine-tuning each shot and don’t mind spending time dialling in, there are more cost-effective options that might better suit your style.
It’s worth noting that the Bicocca doesn’t eliminate all variables. As the ambient temperature rises throughout the day, you’ll still need to make minor grinder adjustments.
That said, users with the palate to detect these subtle changes typically have the knowledge to make necessary adjustments. For those less discerning, a shot running slightly faster later in the day likely won’t detract from their coffee experience.
During our review period, the Bicocca consistently delivered excellent espresso and flat whites. But what truly impressed us was the machine’s reliability in producing these results time after time.
We should emphasize that taste ultimately comes down to bean quality, grind precision, and proper extraction. While entry-level machines might achieve similar shot quality, the Bicocca’s strength lies in its ability to reproduce these results consistently.
Getting brilliant, consistent espresso shots typically requires a significant investment in high-end equipment. While other premium home machines offer excellent temperature stability, we believe the Bicocca’s genius lies in combining this stability with clever programmability.
Our testing revealed that this combination delivers outstanding shot consistency, even for users with limited barista experience. This makes it particularly valuable for business settings where you want to impress customers with exceptional espresso-based drinks, regardless of who’s operating the machine.
The same principle applies brilliantly in homes where not everyone shares your coffee expertise. Once properly configured, anyone following basic instructions can pull shots that match the quality of an experienced home barista.
While the price point isn’t insignificant (though businesses should note that leasing options are available), our main quibble focuses on the user interface placement. The flat positioning atop the group head, rather than at an angle, isn’t ideal for shorter users who might need to stretch to view the screen properly.
We should note that this is a minor inconvenience, primarily affecting those who’ll programme the machine rather than day-to-day operation, which simply requires pressing a button. However, if accessibility is a concern, we’d recommend positioning this machine slightly lower than standard counter height.
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